The wedding setup looked as beautiful as the Heavens were imagined to look. The aisle divided the white seats into half, leading up to the altar that overlooked the Chattahoochee River. The sun had just risen, covering the surface of the water with its orange rays, as if contributing to the wedding theme.At the front, the couple’s family had designated seats and the planner had even left a seat for Aunt May as per Jenny’s wishes. The peach and white flower arrangements were placed along the sides of the aisle creating a romantic and lush aisleway from the entrance all the way to the altar.White florals and pampas grass had been used to create a modern eclectic boho feeling that was highlighted by the rustic wedding arch at the altar. From the sight of the venue, it was clear to see Aunt May’s presence around them, and their influence on their lives. Rita had gone out to inspect the venue for the umpteenth time in a bid to calm Jenny’s anxiety down which left her running around and
“Did you all think that I was going to let you off so easily, huh?” Vivian shouted from behind. The crowd gaped in surprise as they watched her stagger to the front, knocking down some of the arrangements that had been placed symmetrically on the ground. She was clearly drunk. “You and your family came to ruin my life and you think you can escape that easily!” Vivian laughed out loud, devilishly. “No, honey! You got it all wrong! Vivian Kent never accepts defeat.” Lucas stomped over to meet her in the middle of the aisle and with all his strength, he pulled her back all the way to the end. She was screaming and wincing in pain, demanding him to get his hands off her. Lucas was not about to do that. “Let me go, Lucas! I will not tell you again!” she shouted loudly. Before she could utter another word, a louder roar was heard from the left side of the audience. It was Terrence. Jenny had invited him for the wedding, and as a form of respect, he had taken the first plane to Atlanta to
Charlotte drove into the parking garage of her office building with a smile on her face. It had not been officially announced yet, but she had a hunch that today she was going to get the promotion she had always dreamed of - being Editor-In-Chief at Kerrington Publishers. The beat-up Toyota Camry she had inherited from her mother spurt out exhaustion fumes as she came to a stop, but this time, unlike all the other times it had done this, she did not grind her teeth in frustration. Nothing was going to get her moods down today. If all went as well as she had imagined, she was going to have a more prestigious job, with a hell lot more money. God knows she had worked hard enough to deserve a better lifestyle. She stepped out of the car, her black sandal heels hitting the ground first, and then her hour-glass figure which fit perfectly in the red pencil dress that she bought specifically for this occasion, emerged. Charlotte knew she looked stunning enough to turn a few heads, and her
It had been two months since the closure of Kerrington Publishers Company. I woke up, almost kicking my laptop off the bed. My days had been filled with sending job applications to different publishing companies, but to no avail. For some unexplainable reason, my heart was beating so fast as if I had just finished a marathon. The only marathon I was doing was editing my cover letters, which would lead me to run all through the night to early mornings. I tried slowing down my breathing, and when I was calmer, I steadied myself on the edge of the bed and turned to look at the other side of the bed. Terrence was missing. I propped myself up and took steady steps to the bathroom which was dry and empty. Looking at the alarm clock that seemed desolate on the bedside drawer, I noticed that it was ten minutes to noon. Surely, I had slept all morning, and it made sense why Terrence would be missing as he had an important meeting today morning. Dancing to the small breeze on the bedside table
I could hear Aunt May talking but my head was in a whole other space. After Kerrington’s call, I spent most of the time searching online for cheap accommodation in New York, but apparently, the cheapest room cost the equivalent of the total money I had in my bank account at the moment. This meant that I would have catered for my living expenses without considering transport and food. If only I could… As much as I tried pleading with the hoteliers on call, there was no other option for me but the very one that I was trying to avoid. Which led me to Aunt May’s house. *** Aunt May, Lucas’s grandmother, had taken care of him since he was a child. After his parents separated, the child custody appeal had been finalized granting Aunt May full custody of Lucas until he was sixteen. This protected him from his professional drunk of a father and his poor mother, who then ran off to New York to get a job, promising to come back for Lucas. Twenty-four years ago, when they moved down the st
The party had just started. Women of all races, sizes, and shapes had gathered in Lucas Benjamin’s grand house, ready to partake in the greatest indulgence of their lifetime. They were all dressed to kill in flimsy fancy dresses that distinguished them as ladies while at the same time showcasing their wild nature. The men were not as distinguishably dressed, though they still looked good in their mostly black and grey suits. Only one man ever stood out in such crowds really- the owner of the party, the house, and the hearts of most of the women in the room - Lucas Benjamin. Even if one had never laid eyes on Lucas, it was easy to know who he was the moment he entered a room. His stature, and the way he carried himself, were a statement by themselves. He was standing by his grand staircase, looking poised in his navy green Dolce and Gabbana suit, his black Gucci shoes, the thousand-dollar Rolex draped graciously on his left wrist, and the diamond chain on his neck. He was the defin
The sex was great, as it often was. But still, when both women were exhausted and deep in their sleep, I found myself wide awake, staring at the ceiling. During such moments, I wondered if there was more to life than this. I loved great parties. I loved having great sex. But I craved something more. I am not sure of love, as romantic love sounds too complicated, and the only complicated things I loved were profitable for me. I am not sure if I am up for complications that do not make me richer. Moreso, I have never had any love that was not from Aunt May. And her. She was my friend, my companion. I could have meaningful conversations with her. I could lie with her and feel safe, feel seen, feel at home. I want her. The self-confession brought shudders down my naked body. The thoughts of her made me feel more awake than I was before. Knowing that she had always been the woman for me, and admitting it to myself, drained all the alcohol out of my system, and brought excitement t
I was not myself for a long while. My mind was in a disarray and my whole body was one second away from exploding from excitement. I tried gulping down various drinks that usually calmed me – Remy Martini and the likes – but today, it seemed the alcohol percentage in this one bottle was less than the usual 40%. I even tried my Cuban cigars which I had received from Mark last year, but those too seemed ineffective today. Giving up in frustration, I took the elevator to the rooftop and got inside my heated pool, hoping to feel much more relaxed than I did. Since the phone call with Aunt May that afternoon, my organs seemed to be performing their functions at faster paces than normal. If this happened without reason, I would have had my house manager phone my doctor and term it a fatal emergency. But today, there was the reason. And the reason was Charlotte Manning. I did not like this kind of anxiety. It was Lucas Benjamin. I was always in control. I was aware of things before th